Tips For Traveling Smart In Paris & France

France Packages

With the opening of the "chunnel" between London and Paris several years ago, more and more Elsie from England clients have been hopping over to Paris. This new  Eurostar train service has cut travel time between London and Paris to a swift and comfortable three hours, and best of all, there is no tedious travel to and from airports. You embark and disembark in downtown London and downtown Paris. As such, we are happy to provide all our Paris-bound clients with information, tips, and advise that you may find helpful. 

ACCOMMODATIONS: 
Thankfully, there are many reasonably priced hotels in Paris. While they are rated according to five comfort levels indicated by stars: deluxe (****L), luxury (****), good tourist quality (***), and budget (** and *), it isn't always the most reliable rating. There are some excellent 3star hotels and some mediocre 3star hotels. We have tried to select the best within each category taking into account the important aspect of location. 

Please note that regardless of the classification, elevators in Paris hotels are extremely tiny, often able to accommodate only 2 persons and their luggage, if that. 

The "continental breakfast" that is usually included in your hotel rate normally consists of a croissant and café au lait (about half coffee and half milk). 

BANKS: 
Banks are generally open weekdays 9am to 4.30 pm. In many cities outside Paris banks close for an hour or two at noon. Most banks are closed Saturdays and Sundays in Paris (Sundays and Mondays in the provinces). Virtually all ATMs in France take Visa and MasterCard, and many are linked to Cirrus and some to Plus systems. American Express now has ATMs in major cities as well. Withdrawing money from ATMs usually has the added bonus of better exchange rates. 

CAFES:
Paris owes some of its charm to its many cafés, of which there are 12,000 in the city. The most popular time of day is between 5 - 7pm. 

CAR RENTALS: 
Car rental in France is very expensive by U.S. standards. Reserving your car in the U.S. before you depart can mean substantial savings - most international car rental agencies discount standard rates by up to 30 percent if you reserve ahead for a minimum number of days and pay in advance. Elsie from England has access to excellent car rental rates in France. If you are renting a car in Britain, we do NOT recommend that you take it to France as your steering wheel will be on the wrong side. France drives on the same side as the U.S. Gas and highway tolls are about twice as expensive as in the U.S.

CURRENCY: 
The unit of currency in France is the French Franc (FF), subdivided into 100 centimes. Notes come in denominations of 500 Francs, 200 Francs, 100 Francs and 50 Francs. Coins are as follows: 20 Francs, 10 Francs, 5 Francs, 2 francs, 1 Franc, 50 Centimes, 20 Centimes, 10 Centimes, 10 Centimes and 5 Centimes.

DOCUMENTS:
If you are an American citizen, you will not require a visa to travel in France for fewer than 90 days, with the following exceptions: holders of diplomatic passports or government employees on official mission, students on study programs in France, and ship or airline crew members on duty. All U.S. citizens, including infants, need a valid passport to enter France. It is mandatory in France to carry some form of identification at all times. If you lose your passport, go to the nearest U.S. consulate to get a three-month temporary passport. If you are not an American citizen, please call the closest U.S. consulate to you for entry requirements. 

HINT:
Visit your doctor prior to departure, and if you are taking prescription drugs, have a copy of the prescription with its generic name together with a note from your doctor, in case you need a refill enroute. Visit your dentist - nothing can ruin a holiday faster than a nagging toothache. Check your health insurance policy to see if it covers you when you're out of the country. If it does not, Elsie from England offers inexpensive health coverage for the period of your trip. 

DRIVING IN FRANCE:
A valid driver's license, issued in the U.S., is required for all U.S. citizens who wish to drive in France. The minimum age for drivers is 18. Proof of insurance coverage is necessary. Distances are in kilometers, and one kilometer equals 0.62 (or 5/8th) miles (1 mile = 1.6 kilometers). Parking in urban areas tends to be zoned for restricted use by residents or subject to a fee. In some areas blue parking zones marked by a blue line on the pavement or a blue signpost with a P and a small square underneath require use of a "time disc which may be purchased from supermarkets or gas stations.

ELECTRICAL VOLTAGE: 
Electricity in France runs on 220-volt, 50-cycle AC current, versus the 110-volt, 60 cycle AC current used in the U.S. If you are bringing electrical appliances, you will need a voltage transformer and a plug adapter. 

MONEY: 
There are no restrictions on the amount of currency visitors can take into France. Visitors are advised to complete a currency declaration form on arrival. American Express, Visa, Mastercard-Eurocard and Diners Club are widely accepted in shops, hotels, restaurants and gas stations. American Express cards can be used only in dispensers operated by the Credit Lyonnais bank or by American Express. Travelers checks are a safe way to carry large amounts of money, but many banks charge a service fee for cashing them, and not all hotels, restaurants, and shops accept them as payment, even if they are in French Francs, so check before the bill comes. 

MUSEUMS, ART GALLERIES AND EXHIBITIONS:
Some 100 museums, 200 art galleries and numerous temporary exhibitions keep up Paris' international reputation as a cultural and artistic center. All national museums and art galleries are closed on Tuesday and all those belonging to the City of Paris close on Monday. 

NATIONAL HOLIDAYS:

• New Year's Day - January 1

• Easter Sunday and Monday - March 30 & 31

• Labor Day - May 1

• V.E. Day - May 8

• Ascension Thursday - May 8

• Pentecost Sunday and Monday - May 18 & 19

• Bastille Day - July 14

• Assumption Day - August 15

• All Saints' Day - November 1

• Christmas Day - December 25

POST OFFICES: 
Post offices are marked La Poste and are open from 8am to 7pm weekdays and 8am to noon on Saturdays. In addition to normal services, main post offices can cash or send international postal checks and money orders and have fax, telex, and coin, and card-operated telephone services. In Paris, the main post office at 52 rue du Louvre is open 24 hours a day. Stamps can also be purchased at tabacs, hotels and some newsstands.

TRAVELING BY BUS/RAIL & BATOBUS:
Two thousand buses crisscross Paris daily. Bus maps and information are available from the Paris Tourist Office. The Paris Métro is safe though it can involve a lot of walking and climbing stairs when changing lines. It may also be difficult if you are unable to read or understand any French at all. The Métro runs from 5.30 am to 12.30 am. NOTE: Always be sure to keep your ticket handy because you may be asked to show it to a transit officer and it is sometimes need to exit the Métro turnstile.

The city of Paris also operates a boat transportation service on the Seine River called batobus. Batobus is in service from April to late September. 

France has an extensive national railroad service, which is extremely comfortable and efficient. TGV high-speed trains make travel to many major cities astonishingly fast. Rail passes and packages are available and must be purchased in the U.S. Elsie from England can issue Eurail passes as well as French rail passes.

RESTAURANTS: Paris has restaurants for every taste and budget, and for light lunches there are sidewalk cafés on nearly every corner. Note: beware of high-priced bottled water and coffee which can run up an otherwise modest check. A bistro is a small neighborhood restaurant with simple food. Brasseries usually specialize in beer, Alsacian dishes and wines, oysters, and shellfish; they usually serve all-day and late into the night. Many expensive gourmet restaurants offer very good-value prix-fixe menues at lunch. A number of restaurants serve house wines in pitchers, carafes, or by the glass. Paris also has a wide range of international cuisine, including, American, Asian, Belgian, Indian, Italian and Japanese.

SHOPPING:
Paris enjoys an international reputation for clothes design, haute couture and fashion accessories. Department stores stock most of the famous brands and on-hand duty-free service for overseas visitors. There are many beautiful period arcades, built in the early 19th century, providing a picturesque atmosphere for unusual shops. Department stores and large shops are open Monday to Saturday from 9am to 6.30 - 7.30pm. Some are open late one day a week. Smaller, individual shops and boutiques may close during the lunch hour and are often closed on Mondays. Food shops - grocers, wine merchants and bakeries are open from 7am to 6.30pm; many close local market-day afternoons. Some open on Sunday mornings and are closed on Monday. 

NOTE: If you are interested in shopping at the French Haute Couture houses, appointments are usually required. 

TAXIS:
Taxis are not as numerous in Paris as in New York or London. You can hail in the street when the light on top written "taxi" is on. Taxis also line up at stands located near intersections and metro stations. All fares are metered. Unfortunately, most taxi drivers don't speak more than a few words of English, and may therefore seem unfriendly. It is therefore a good idea to always have your hotel brochure or a card with your hotel's name and address to show to the taxi driver. NOTE: Paris taxis are usually unable to take more than three passengers at a time. Drivers can charge a supplement for baggage, a fourth passenger, or an animal. A receipt is provided upon request. 

TELEPHONES:
Most public telephones only accept phone cards called télécartes, for sale at post offices or café-tabacs. To call the U.S. from France, dial "00" then "1" plus the area code and phone number.

TIPPING:
Almost all restaurants include tax and a 15 percent service charge in their prices (service compris). If a meal or service has been particularly good, leaving another FF10 is customary, as is leaving the waiter small change from your bill if you paid in cash. If service is not included in the price (service non compris) a 15 percent tip is customary. It is customary to tip porters FF10 for every piece of luggage, maid FF10 a day, taxi drivers 10-15 percent of the metered fare, and hairdressers,10 percent. Small tips of around FF5 are reasonable for cloakroom and washroom attendants, ushers and museum tour guides. It is standard practice to tip tour guides and bus drivers after an excursion. 

V.A.T. REFUND (Value Added Tax): 
As a visitor from a non-EC country, you can get a refund of the value-added tax (VAT or TVA in French) on purchases of FF1200 or more at any single store. Refund ranges from 13 to 20.6 percent depending on the classification of goods. When making purchases, ask the store to complete VAT refund forms, then submit them to customs when leaving France or the EEC (be prepared to show the goods). Refunds are credited to your credit card account or sent a few weeks later by mail.

WEATHER:
France has a temperate climate made up of four climatic zones: 

• the humid coastal zone west of Bayonne-Lille - cool summers

• the semi-continental zone of Alsace-Lorraine and the Rhône-alps region - cold winters, hot summers

• the intermediate zone in Paris, the north and central France - cold winters, hot summers

• the Mediterranean zone in southern France -mild winters, hot (but pleasant!) summers.

Temperatures in Fahrenheit Degrees

France Packages